Tampa Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When a doctor, hospital, or healthcare provider's negligence causes serious injury or death, you need a Tampa medical malpractice attorney with the expertise and resources to hold them accountable. Cardinal Law has the medical knowledge and legal skill to win complex med mal cases.
Free Consultation ā¢ No Fees Unless We Win ā¢ Available 24/7
Medical Malpractice in Florida
20,000+
Annual Medical Malpractice Claims in Florida
3rd
Highest Number of Medical Errors in the U.S.
250,000
Deaths from Medical Errors Annually (U.S.)
2 Years
Statute of Limitations for Florida Med Mal
Types of Medical Malpractice We Handle in Tampa
Cardinal Law represents victims of all forms of medical negligence at Tampa hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities.
Surgical Errors & Wrong-Site Surgery
Misdiagnosis & Delayed Diagnosis
Birth Injuries & Obstetric Negligence
Medication Errors & Pharmacy Mistakes
Emergency Room Negligence
Hospital-Acquired Infections
Why Medical Malpractice Cases Are Uniquely Complex
Medical malpractice claims are among the most challenging personal injury cases due to strict legal requirements, complex medical issues, and aggressive defense by hospitals and insurance companies.
Pre-Suit Investigation Requirement
Florida law requires you to conduct a pre-lawsuit investigation and obtain a verified written opinion from a qualified medical expert stating there are reasonable grounds to believe malpractice occurred. You must also provide 90 days' notice to the healthcare provider before filing suit, giving them time to investigate and potentially settle.
This pre-suit process is expensive and time-consuming, requiring extensive medical record review and expert analysis. Cardinal Law handles all pre-suit requirements and bears these costs on your behalf.
Proving the Standard of Care
Medical malpractice cases require expert testimony to establish the applicable standard of care, prove the healthcare provider deviated from that standard, and demonstrate that the deviation directly caused your injuries. The expert must be actively practicing in the same specialty and have specific qualifications.
Finding qualified, credible medical experts willing to testify against other doctors is challenging. Cardinal Law has established relationships with respected medical experts across all specialties.
Damage Caps & Insurance Limits
Florida caps non-economic damages (pain and suffering) in medical malpractice cases at $500,000 to $1.5 million depending on the defendant and circumstances. These caps do not apply in cases resulting in permanent vegetative state or death, or when the court finds the malpractice was particularly egregious.
Understanding how to maximize compensation within Florida's damage cap system requires sophisticated legal strategy. Cardinal Law knows how to structure claims to overcome these limitations.
Strict Statute of Limitations
You generally have 2 years from when you discover (or should have discovered) the malpractice to file a lawsuit, but no more than 4 years from the date of the incident (the "statute of repose"). Missing these deadlines means losing your right to compensation forever.
The discovery rule and statute of repose create complex timing issues, especially when injuries manifest years after treatment. Contact Cardinal Law immediately to protect your rights and preserve all filing deadlines.
Common Medical Errors in Tampa Healthcare Facilities
Understanding the most frequent types of medical malpractice helps victims recognize when negligence has occurred.
Surgical Errors
- Operating on the wrong body part or patient
- Leaving surgical instruments inside the patient
- Damaging nerves, organs, or blood vessels
- Anesthesia errors causing brain damage
- Post-surgical infections and complications
Diagnostic Errors
- Failure to diagnose cancer, heart attack, or stroke
- Misdiagnosis leading to wrong treatment
- Delayed diagnosis allowing disease progression
- Failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests
- Misreading X-rays, MRIs, or lab results
Birth Injuries
- Failure to detect fetal distress
- Delayed or improper C-section
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction
- Cerebral palsy from oxygen deprivation
- Brachial plexus injuries (Erb's palsy)
Tampa Healthcare Facilities Where We Handle Malpractice Cases
Cardinal Law represents medical malpractice victims injured at all Tampa-area hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, and medical facilities.
Tampa General Hospital
AdventHealth Tampa
St. Joseph's Hospital
James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital
Tampa Community Hospital
Memorial Hospital of Tampa
University of South Florida Health
BayCare Health System Facilities
How We Prove Medical Malpractice in Tampa
Winning a medical malpractice case requires proving four essential elements under Florida law.
Duty of Care Existed
We establish that a doctor-patient relationship existed, creating a legal duty for the healthcare provider to provide treatment consistent with the accepted standard of care. This is typically proven through medical records, billing records, and documentation of the treatment relationship.
Breach of the Standard of Care
Through expert testimony, we prove the healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of careāmeaning they did not act as a reasonably prudent provider with similar training would have acted under the same circumstances. This requires thorough medical record review and qualified medical expert opinions.
Causation
We must prove the breach of the standard of care directly caused your injuriesānot just that malpractice occurred. This often requires showing that proper treatment would have prevented your injury or resulted in a better outcome. Expert medical testimony is critical to establishing causation.
Damages
Finally, we prove you suffered compensable damages as a result of the malpracticeāmedical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability, and other losses. We gather all medical records, billing statements, employment records, and expert testimony to fully document your damages.
Compensation in Tampa Medical Malpractice Cases
Medical malpractice victims can recover substantial compensation for the harm caused by negligent healthcare providers.
Economic Damages (No Cap)
- Past and future medical expenses
- Corrective surgeries and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and long-term care costs
- Home and vehicle modifications
Non-Economic Damages (Capped)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium (family impacts)
*Florida caps non-economic damages at $500,000-$1.5 million depending on circumstances, except in cases of death or permanent vegetative state
No Fees Unless We Win Your Tampa Medical Malpractice Case
Medical malpractice cases require substantial upfront costs for medical experts, record review, and investigation. Cardinal Law advances all costs on your behalf. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Call 844-874-PAIN for Your Free ConsultationServing Medical Malpractice Victims Throughout Tampa
Downtown Tampa
Hyde Park
Westchase
Brandon
Riverview
Temple Terrace
Plant City
Town 'n' Country
Tampa Medical Malpractice FAQs
What is medical malpractice in Florida?
In Florida, medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, hospital, pharmacy, etc.) deviates from the accepted standard of care and that deviation causes injury or death to a patient. The standard of care is defined as what a reasonably prudent healthcare provider with similar training would have done in the same or similar circumstances. To prove medical malpractice in Tampa, you must establish: (1) a doctor-patient relationship existed, (2) the provider breached the standard of care, (3) the breach directly caused your injury, and (4) you suffered damages as a result.
How long do I have to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Tampa?
Florida's statute of limitations for medical malpractice is generally 2 years from when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered (with reasonable diligence), but no more than 4 years from the date of the incident. However, there are important exceptions: cases involving fraud, concealment, or intentional misrepresentation can extend the deadline; cases involving children under age 8 have different rules; and the statute of repose (4-year maximum) can be extended in limited circumstances. Because Florida medical malpractice law is complex, contact Cardinal Law immediately to ensure your case is filed within all applicable deadlines.
What damages can I recover in a Tampa medical malpractice case?
In Tampa medical malpractice cases, you can recover economic damages (past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, rehabilitation costs) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life). Florida caps non-economic damages at $500,000 per claimant ($1 million if multiple claimants) for practitioners and $750,000 per claimant ($1.5 million if multiple claimants) against non-practitioner defendants like hospitals. However, these caps do not apply if the malpractice resulted in a permanent vegetative state or death. Punitive damages are available in cases of gross negligence but are capped at 3 times compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is greater.
Do I need a medical expert for my Tampa malpractice case?
Yes. Florida law requires you to provide a verified written medical expert opinion before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. The expert must be a licensed healthcare provider in the same specialty as the defendant and must state that there are reasonable grounds to believe malpractice occurred. During the lawsuit, expert testimony is essential to prove the standard of care, how the defendant breached it, and how that breach caused your injuries. Cardinal Law works with highly qualified medical experts in all specialties to thoroughly investigate and prove Tampa medical malpractice cases.
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Through 13 years of experience and multi-millions recovered for our clients we offer the most premium legal services.
Visit Our Florida Offices
Cardinal Law has offices throughout Florida to serve you better. Our main office is in Naples, with additional locations by appointment.
Naples Office
Main Office9045 Strada Stell Court
Suite 305
Naples, FL 34109
Orlando Office
200 E Robinson Street
Suite 1120
Orlando, FL 32801
Tampa Office
401 East Jackson Street
Suite 2340
Tampa, FL 33602
Miami Office
848 Brickell Avenue
Suite PH5
Miami, FL 33131
Fort Myers Office
5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd
Suite 511
Fort Myers, FL 33907
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